Ginger Fox Part 3

"So that’s why the lawyer came..."
"Freire was called because Roy is losing his patience; if he really did what he wanted to do with that man, Dexter would already be fish food at the bottom of the sea." — Her body settles beside me, shoulders slumping in despair. "It was the last straw for Roy to see you going into the library to talk to that nosy person. He got strange..."
"Jonathan is already strange, Baby," I say quietly, not understanding why Roy is angry.
Maybe he thought I’d say something to harm them, but I’d never do that. I told the truth, just the truth about what I saw. Even though Bob is at the top of my list of suspects who harm Jon, I wouldn’t lie about the facts. I hate lying. Baby made me promise never to talk to Roy about our suspicions. But other than that, I told the truth.
I didn’t see anything. When I arrived, Bob was already there, lying down. I didn’t harm anyone.
"No, Gim. Jonathan is stranger than his usual self." — I direct my gaze to the tip of her finger, sliding over my wrist, seeing the bump that’s almost fading from my skin. "He’s out of control and dangerous, exactly how Dad was when she was involved in something..."
"Baby, you’re mistaken..."
"They’re moving too fast..." — Her face lifts, biting the corner of her mouth, showing concern. "Jonathan might be a brilliant son of a bitch, but he still locks many things inside him that he can’t control. Maybe it’s not just the Machiavellian mind he inherited from our father. This isn’t going to end well, Gim."
"We’re just playing. It’s just sex..."
"They’re not just playing Sodom; they’re taking it in another direction, bonding in a toxic way. And even I can see that this isn’t healthy."
"Jonathan doesn’t see me the way you’re implying. Your parents loved each other..." — I let the words out, distressed. Baby is having an illusion about her family history, thinking the story will repeat itself.
Roy says nothing about his past. We have no connection other than sweat and sex. He never lets me see anything beyond what he wants me to. But I know she’s right in one respect: it’s not healthy, not at all, but I can’t blame just Roy, because the more he gives me, the more I want. And the more I want, the more he provides, testing both his limits and mine.
"You can stop anytime you want. You just need to say it, say it loudly, with a firm voice, at any moment, and the game ends."
I look at Baby, confused, not understanding what she’s trying to tell me.
"Say what firmly?" — Her eyes widen, looking at me in surprise, but then her face hardens into a frown.
"The keyword that cancels the game: Gomorrah! That bastard didn’t tell you, did he?" — She stands up angrily, pacing the room. "Of course he didn’t tell you. That cunning son of a bitch!"
"Baby, I still don’t understand."
"Roy invented the game for the Masters to test their limits with their partners. Czar was the first to test it. That Russian son of a bitch kept his submissive in captivity for thirty days, tied up in an abandoned hospital..."
"My God!" — I’m already in shock, my mouth open in horror.
"Of course, it was consensual, Gim." — Baby laughs nervously, tapping my forehead. "For Christ’s sake, stop looking so shocked! Czar is a caveman, but he would never force a woman. — I’m not sure if I should feel relieved or still horrified that a woman would agree to be captive for thirty days in an abandoned hospital."
"Czar redefined the term submissive. I think that girl is still addicted to him. — I’m going crazy with every bit of information I absorb from this Sodom world."
"Where does Gomorrah fit into this?" — Baby fiddles with the ends of her hair, twirling them around her finger, glancing sideways at me with a mischievous smile.
"I heard rumors that Czar was fucking her with her body upside down; she was so hoarse she could barely speak, mumbling 'die,' but she meant 'move.' He was supposed to move her from the ropes because the sub was having strong muscle spasms from the orgasm. Czar was so out of his mind that he kept pounding her like an animal. — Baby covers her mouth, laughing, holding back a burst of laughter. — The idiot fucked her for ten minutes before realizing the girl had gone into a state of paralysis. The Russian panicked, thinking he’d killed her."
I can’t help but laugh as Baby starts imitating the Russian, shaking her head in desperation.

"She kept saying 'DIE, DIE.'" — Baby deepens her voice, making it sound funnier, which makes me feel a bit of sympathy for the poor Russian. "The council then established Gomorrah as the keyword, a satire of the Sodom Game. Roy should have told you, but he’s just a sneaky Rumpelstiltskin who would keep you in the dark."
My laughter dies. The smile on my face fades as I realize what Baby is telling me. Why didn’t Roy tell me how to end the game?
"Now you know how to end the game. To end everything, to be honest. Renounce it once, and Roy will know you’re no longer connected to him. You just need to say..."
"Gomorrah!" — I move my feet to the mattress, flexing my legs, resting my chin on my knee, staring blankly at the floor.
Inside, I don’t know if I’m ready to stop, but I’m also aware that continuing is becoming malignant. It’s like a drug, crack. We know all the harm we’re causing, but the body still craves the damn stone! I raise my eyes to Baby, seeing her blurred face amidst the tears welling up in my eyes. I don’t have the strength to stop. I’m psychologically, physically, and passionately conditioned to Jonathan, and I can’t escape this situation. Baby embraces me, letting me hide my face on her shoulder, holding me tighter. I allow myself to release all the tears that come like high, monstrous waves, breaking with every desperate sob from my tormented soul.